Apparatus for collecting filamentary materials



Feb. 28, 1967 F. E. ROLLINS ET AL APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING FILAMENTARY MATERIALS original Filed Feb. 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS @50m/CK Aou/Ms BY mpg/V55 0h/E, JA.

Feb. 28, E967 F. E. ROLLlNs ET AL 3,306,721

APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING FILAMENTARY MATERIALS Original Filed Feb. 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- T Tom/5 V3 United States Patent O 3,306,721 APPARATUS FOR CGLLECTING FILAMENTARY MATERIALS Frederick E. Rollins and Clarence L. Lowe, Jr., Aikens,

S.C., assignors to @wens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of= application Ser. No. 347,550, Feb. 26, 1964. This application May 12, 1966, Ser. No. 550,884 7 Claims. (Cl. 655-11) This invention relates to an apparatus for collecting filamentary materials and .more especially to a method and apparatus for collecting attenuated filaments or fibers from heat-softenable materials and traversing or distributing the filamentary material as it is wound on a rotating collector and facilitating the dofng of a completed package of iilamentary material and the transfer of the filamentary material onto an empty or fresh collector without interrupting linear travel of the filamentary material.

Rotatable traverse means have been employed for distributing filamentary materials lengthwise of a rotating collector or packaging sleeve wherein the rotatable traverse means is provided with an angular groove for rapidly oscillating a strand of filamentary material in order to effect crossing of individual convolutions or wraps of the str-and as it is wound into a package. A rotatable traverse of this character is described in Barnes and Wofford, Patent 3,073,538 granted January l5, 1963.

In the use of a rotatable traverse oscillator of the character disclosed in this patent, transfer of a strand from a completed package onto an empty collector involves moving the strand of filamentary material out of an angular guide groove in the rotatable traverse oscillator and diverting the strand to a strand transfer region adjacent the end of a completed package. The strand is transferred to an empty collector without interrupting linear travel of the strand of filaimentary material and, after transfer, the strand is again moved into engagement with the traverse oscillator while the later is rotating at a high speed. In the use of such a traverse it is necessary to provide reentrant slots for the strand receiving groove in order to effect re-entry of the strand into the groove of the rapidly rotating oscillator after transfer of the strand onto an empty collector.

Structurally, re-entrant slots have sharp edge regions and difficulties of breakage of the strand have been encountered by reason of the presence of the sharp edges at the re-entrant slots impinging against the strand moving at high linear speeds. Furthermore, the surfaces defining the entrance regions of the slots are subject to rapid wear by reason of repeated disengagement and re-en-gagement of the strand.

The present invention embraces an apparatus for controlling a filamentary body for traversing the body in forming a wound package to normally distribute the linear body on the package in crossing convolutions and effecting disengagement from and re-engagement of the lamentary body with an oscillator minimizing the liability of impinging the body against edge configurations thereby reducing the tendency for breakage for the rapidly moving body during transferring operations.

A-nother object of the invention embraces an apparatus for effecting transfer of a rapidly advancing filamentary body or strand from a completed package onto an empty collector of a winding apparatus wherein the lamentary body is disengaged from a traverse oscillator and diverted to a strand transfer region and after transfer is effected onto an empty collector, of biasing the filamentary body toward a rotating traverse oscillator whereby the filamentary body is re-engaged with the traverse oscillator with a minimum of wear of lbody engaging regions or surfaces of the oscillator.

ice

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rotatable traverse for traversing a linear strand or bundle of filaments on a collector wherein the traverse body is fashioned with an angularly arranged strand receiving groove for oscillating the strand in combination with a peripheral lsurface configuration adapted to receive the strand or linear bundle of filaments and automatically bias the same into the groove.

Another object of the invention resides in a rotary traverse means or oscillator for oscillating a 4strand of filaments wherein the oscillator is journally supported on a reciprocable carrier in combination with a strand engaging surface mounted by the reciprocable carrier for directing the strand toward the oscillator after the completion of a strand transfer operation.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, ele-ments per se, and to economies of ma-nufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of' the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE l is a front elevational view illustrating an arrangement for carrying out the method of collecting and traversing strands of filaments of heat-softenable material and for effecting transfer of the strands from completed packages to empty collectors;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the reciprocable carrier supporting the traverse oscillators;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational View illustrating one form of traverse oscillator of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic expanded View of the strand traverse groove and biasing surfaces illustrated in FIG- URES 3 and 4, and

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view showing a portion of a modification of traverse oscillator of the invention.

While the method of collecting and traversing strands of filaments and traverse apparatus of the invention are particularly usable in collecting, traversing and packaging newly formed filaments of glass or other heat-softenable material, it is to be understood that the .method and traverse means may be utilized in collecting, traversing and packaging other linear materials.

Referring to the drawings in detail and initially to FIG- URE 1, there is illustrated a feeder or bushing 10 adapted to contain heat-softened filament-forming material such as glass which may be supplied from a melting furnace (not shown) provided with a forehearth 12 arranged to convey the heat-softened fiowable material to the feeder. The feeder 10 is provided with a floor or tip section 14 fashioned with two groups of depending tips or projections 16 and 16', the tips or projections being formed with orifices through which the glass flows in fine streams.

The feeder 10 is preferably formed of an alloy of platinum and rhodium or other material capable of withstanding the intense heat of the molten glass.

The feeder 10 may be connected with a source of electric energy controlled to maintain the glass in the feeder at a proper viscosity so that the streams of glass flowing through the oriced tips are substantially uniform. The streams from the group of tipsv16 are attenuated into fine continuous filaments 18 forming one group of filaments 18 and the streams from the tips 16 of the other group are attenuated to fine continuous filaments 18 forming the second group.

The filaments 1S are converged by a fila-ment gathering means or shoe 20 to form a strand 22, and the filaments 18 of the other group are Iconverged by a filament gathering means or shoe 24 into a strand 26. It

is desirable to establish a moist environment in the region of the newly formed filaments, and nozzles 29 are provided for projecting fine sprays of water onto the filaments prior to their convergence into strand form. A lubricant or other coating material may be applied to the strands before they engage the gathering shoes and 24.

Disposed adjacent the gathering shoes are receptacles 28 and 30 adapted to contain lubricant or coating material, each receptacle being provided with an applicator 32 for delivering lubricant or coating material onto the filaments of each group.

The applicators 32 may be in the -form of endless belts or rolls partially immersed in lubricant or coating material in the receptacles, t-he filaments acquiring a film of the lubricant or coating material by wiping action with the material on the applicators. The streams of glass are attenuated to filaments by winding strands 22 and 26 of the filaments upon collectors, tubes or sleeves disposed in end-to-end relation upon a rotatable supporting mandrel or collet at a winding station.

The winding apparatus illustrated is automatic, having an indexing arrangement for indexing or moving empty collectors or tubes into winding position and concomitantly moving the complete packages away from winding position without interrupting linear travel of the strands. During collection of the strands on the collectors, the method of traversing the strands and the means therefor are effective to distribute the strands lengthwise of the collectors or packaging tubes and oscillate the strands to effect a crossing of the individual convolutions or wraps of strand during their collection.

The winding machine or apparatus illustrated in FIG- URES l and 2 is inclusive of a housing 34 enclosing or supporting mechanism for mounting, rotating and indexing the packaging collectors or tubes, mechanism for rotating and reciprocating the strand traverse means and for motivating a strand diverting means brought into operation upon completion of strand packages for effecting transfer of the strands from completed packages onto empty tubes or collectors without interrupting filament attenuation.

Journally supported upon suitable bearings (not shown) mounted within the housing 34 is a rotata-ble turret or head 36 which is adapted to be indexed to three positions in the performance of winding operations where three winding collets are employed as shown in FIGURE 1. `It is to be understood that the arrangement of the invention may be utilized with winding apparatus embodying an indexible head supporting two winding collets. Journally supported upon the indexible head 36 are three collets or mandrels 38, 39 and 40 spaced circumferentially equal distances apart With their axes at equal radial distances from the axis of the indcxible head 36.

The indexing mechanism is of conventional character such as the arrangement shown in Smith Patent 3,109,602 `granted November 5, 196.v As shown in FIGURE 1, the collet 38 is at the Winding or packaging station, the collet 39 at a position at which a completed package of strand is dofied, and collet 40 is in standby position preparatory to indexing to move a pair of empty collectors or packaging tubes into winding position, the head 36 being indexible in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1.

The collets 38, 39 and 40 are of identical construction and each is adapted to receive two collectors or packaging tubes 42, the tubes being slidable onto a collet. Each of the collets is arranged to be rotated by an individual electrically energizable motor (not shown) contained within the housing 34 and carried by the head 36.

As shown in FIGURE l, the strands 22 and 26 are concomitantly wound upon the tubes 42 on the collet 38 disposed at the winding station. The collet at the winding station is rotated at a sufiiciently high speed to attenuate the streams of `glass to fine continuous lfilaments,

the linear travel of the filaments being upwards of twelve thousand or more linear feet per minute.

The indexible head 36 is adapted to be driven by a motor 46 which, through speed reducingT mechanisms contained within a housing 47, drives a sprocket 48. The head is provided with a sprocket 49 driven from the sprocket 4S by a chain 50, the motor 46 being periodically energized by conventional programming or timing means at the completion of a strand package to move the strand packages away from the winding station and a collet bearing empty collectors or tubes into winding position.

The invention is inclusive of a method of and means for distributing or traversing the strands 22 and 26 on the collectors or tubes 42 at the winding station, the traverse means or strand oscillators being rotatable and reciprocable for winding the strands so that successive convolutions or wraps are disposed in crossing relation and for distributing the strands lengthwise of the collectors or tubes in successive layers to form a strand package.

It is essential in the collection of filaments of glass coated with lubricant or size that the individual convolutions or wraps of strand be disposed in crossing relation during `winding or collection to avoid adhesion of successive convolutions or wraps of strand. The strand is oscillated to establish the crossing relation of individual wraps and is reciprocated to distribute the strand lengthwise on the collector while perpetuating the crossing strand pattern throughout the package.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES l through 5, a strand guide or oscillator S4 is provided -for each strand, the strand oscillators being mounted for rotation upon a reciprocable carrier 56. The carrier 56 is mounted on a shaft or member 5S which extends into the housing 34 and is reciprocated by conventional Imeans contained within the housing such as a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator 59 or other suitable means. The actuator 59 for reciprocating the carrier is programmed or controlled by conventional means whereby reciprocations of the carrier are progressively reduced in length in order to build strand packages with tapered ends to prevent sloughing of the strand.

The strand oscillators or traverse guides 54 are mounted upon a shaft 60 journaled in suitable bearings 61 mounted by the carrier 56 as shown in FIGURE 3. The oscillators may be rotated by an electrically energizable variable speed motor 64, the motor shaft being operatively connected with the oscillator supporting shaft 60 by a coupling 66.

The oscillators 54 may be driven by hydraulic means or other suitable motive means. Secured to the carrier 56 are strand guide plates or members 68 having guide surfaces 70 for biasing the strands toward the respective oscillators after the strands have been transferred from completed packages to empty tubes to re-establish oscillation of the strands as they are wound on empty collectors.

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate in detail one form of oscillator 54, each of the oscillators being of the same construction. 'Ihe oscillator body '74 is of generally circular disc-like shape and is preferably formed of phenolic resin reinforced with layers or laminations of cloth, such material being commercially known as Westinghouse Micarta grade 286. The peripheral region of the body 74 is configurated with converging surface areas, which in this embodiment, comprise two frusto-conically shaned surface areas 76 and 77 converging at the median line 78, the median line forming the apex of a shallow V- shaped groove 30 defined by surfaces 76 and 77.

In additional to the V-groove configuration Si), the body of the oscillator is fashioned with a circumferential recess or sl-ot 82 defined by uninterrupted parallel wall surfaces 84 spaced from the end walls 90 angularly arranged with respect to the axis of rotation of the oscillator, the axis being illustrated by the line A-A in FIG- URE 4. The bottom of the recess 82 is defined by a hub portion 83 having a curved region 85, the hub being an integral portion of the body. The median plane of the circumferential slot is angularly disposed to and intersects the axis of rotation of the oscillator.

The degree of angular convergence of the surfaces 76 and 77 is illustrated by the angle designated 86 and the degree of angularity of the slot or recess 82 with respect to a plane normal to the axis A-A is indicated by the angle 88.

From FIGURES 4 and 5, it will be seen that angular groove 82 is of harmonic motion shape and functions to guide or oscillate the strand during each revolution of the traverse oscillator 54 over a restricted area of the strand collecting tube to thereby establish the crossing strand .pattern Iof distribution of the strand on the collector. The Walls 84 defining the slot 82 are spaced from the end walls 90 of the oscillator body providing a continuous but laterally closed strand guiding slot or recess without re-entrant regions or re-entrant slots.

In the oscillator shown in FIGURES 3 through 5, the shallow noncircular or V-shaped peripheral configuration or groove 80 provides a biasing surface area or means for influencing the strand to enter the oscillator recess 82 without sharp edge regions of re-entrant slots which would tend to fracture or break the strand. With reference to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that an apex or terminal region 94 of each of the strand biasing surfaces 70 is disposed adjacent and overlies a portion of the shallow V-shaped groove defined by the surfaces 76 and 77 in the oscillator to enable the satisfactory delivery of the strand under tension into the angular recess or slot 82 for normal strand oscillation and traversing operations. The median plane of the angular slot 82 intersects the plane of convergence of the surfaces 76 and 77 preferably at the axis of rotation of the oscillator body.

The arrangement of the invention is inclusive of means to effect removal of the strands 22 and 26 and from the influence of the angular grooves 82 at-the completion of the packages and transfer the strands from the completed packages onto empty collectors indexed into Winding position and for returning the strands into the angular groove 482 at the completion of strand transfer operations. It is desirable that the strands be removed from the influence of the oscillators and diverted to the end regions of the collectors at the ends of the packages so that the strands are not bein-g oscillated during strand transfer and in order to render the ends of the strands readily accessible for further processing.

The strand control means for effecting transfer of the strands includes a shaft or bar 96 which extends into the housing 34 and is reciprocated by conventional means such as a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator 98 or other actuating means disposed within the housing and arranged to reciprocate the shaft 96 in timed relation with the indexing of the collet-supporting head or turret 36. Fixedly secured to the shaft 96 exteriorly of the housing 34 is an arm or member 100, and secured to the distal end of the arm is a strand control or strand hold-off means or bar 102, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Secured to the hold-off means or bar 102 are lengthwise spaced strand enga-ging fingers 104. The arm 100 is adapted for swinging movement from the full line position shown in FIGURE 1 to the broken line position indicated at 100 in FIGURE 1, the means for rotating and reciprocating the arm 100 and the bar 102 may be of the character shown in Smith Patent 3,109,602.

The automatic operations -of removing the :strands .fr-om the influence of the strand oscillators 54, indexing the head 36 to move the completed packages away from winding position and empty collectors into the winding station and returning the strands into the grooves of the oscillators for normal strand oscillation and traverse are as follows:

Assuming that the packages on the collet 38 are approaching completion, the programming controls cause the motor for the standby collet 40, bearing empty packaging tu-bes to be rotated at a speed whereby the peripheries of the tube approach the linear speed of travel of the strands 22 and 26. The controls then cause swinging movement of the arm 100 by rotating the shaft 96 from the -full line position shown in FIGURE 1 to the broken line position shown at 100. As the rod or member 102 swings to its broken line position, it engages the strands 22 and 26 and moves them out of the influence ofthe oscillator grooves `82.

The shaft 96 is then reciprocated in a left-hand direction as viewed in FIGURE 2 bringing the fingers 104 into contact with the strands and thereby diverting the strands to the outer end regions of the packages adjacent the ends of the collectors.

After the strands have been diverted by the fingers 104 to the ends of the completed packages, the timing or programming mechanism energizes the motor 46 to index or rotate the turret or head 36 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1, to move the completed packages away from winding position and move the collet 40 bearing empty collectors or tubes 42 into winding position adjacent the carrier 56, the carrier remaining in its outermost position of reciprocation during strand transfer operations.

As the collet 38 moves away from the winding position, conventional braking means is applied to the collet 38'to reduce the speed of rotation of the completed packages causing a slack region in the strands to be formed as the empty collectors move into winding position. When this occurs the strands lick to the empty collectors and are snubbed onto the empty collectors in a manner to fracture the strands, freeing the completed packages and initiating Winding of the strands onto the end regions of the empty collectors now at the winding station.

During a comparatively short period that the strands are being wound on the end regions of the collectors, the collet bearing the empty tubes at the winding station is increased in speed until the peripheral speed of the tubes reaches the normal linear speed at which the filaments are attenuated at which time the actuating mechanism for the strand hold-off means 96, and 102 is swung to the full line position shown in FIGURE 1 and retracted toward the housing 34.

The swinging movement of the arm 100 to the full line position shown in FIGURE 1 disengages the bar 102 and the fingers 104 from the strands enabling the strands to engage the angular biasing surfaces 70 shown in FIGURE 3 which surfaces cause move-ment of the strands toward the respective oscillators 54. As the strands move over the tips or ends 94 of the biasing surfaces 70, the strands engage in the shallow V-groove 80 thence into the angular slots 82 without interrupting linear travel of the strands or rotation of the oscillators 54.

Through this method the strands are quickly moved into the angular guide grooves 82 and oscillation of the strands resumed in the normal manner guiding the strands onto the collectors or tubes at the winding station. The strands are biased into the oscillator grooves 82 without the use of re-entrant slots whereby there is less liability of breakage of the strands and delivery of the strands into `the slots is assured under the influence of the biasing surfaces 70 of members 68 and the biasing surfaces defining the shallow V-shaped groove configuration 80.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a portion of a modified form of oscillator 54 having an angularly arranged strand guiding slot 82 of the same character as that shown in FIGURE 4. In this form `of oscillator, the peripheral surface area yof the oscillator body is curved or arcuate as shown at 110, this configuration obtaining throughout y the periphery of the oscillator body.

The arcuate surface provides a shallow circumferential groove having its minimum diameter at the central or median region 78 of the body and provides converging surface areas for biasing the strand into the angular slot S2. The slot 82 is defined by uninterrupted parallel Walls spaced from the end walls 90 of the oscillator body as in the form shown in FTGURE 4. The traverse oscillator 54 functions in the same manner as the oscillator 54.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the 'invention comprehending all variations thereof.

We claim:

1. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a feeder containing heat-softened glass, the floor of said feeder having orifices through which flow streams of glass, a winding instrumentality including a winding collet mounting a collector tube, motive means for rotating the collet and tube to wind a strand of filaments attenuated from the streams into a package on the tube, meansv disposed between the feeder and the winding collet engaging and gathering the filaments into a strand, a rotatable and reciprocable traverse oscillator engageable with the strand at a region spaced from the collector tube for traversing the strand to distribute the strand lengthwise of the package with individual wraps of strand in overlapping relation, means for rotating and reciprocating said oscillator, said traverse oscillator comprising a member having a circumferential strand guiding recess, the median plane of the recess being angularly disposed relative to the axis of rotation of the member, said member having non-cylindrical peripheral surface areas converging at a zone of least diameter intermediate the ends of the member and engageable with the strand for directing the strand into the strand guiding recess.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the non-cylindrical surface areas are of frusto-conical configuration.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the non-cylindrical surface areas are of curved configuration.

4. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a feeder containing heat-softened glass, the fioor of said feeder having orifices through which flow streams of the glass, a winding instrumentality including a winding collet mounting a collector tube, motive means for rotating the collet and collector tube to wind a strand of filaments attenuated from the streams into a package on the tube, means disposed between the feeder and winding collet engaging and converging the filaments into a strand, a rotatable and reciprocable traverse oscillator engageable with the strand at a region spaced from the collector tube for traversing the strand to distribute the strand lengthwise of the package with individual wraps of strand in overlapping relation, means for rotating and reciprocating said oscillator said traverse oscillator comprising a member having a circumferential strand guiding recess, the base of the recess being defined by a hub portion integral with the member, the median plane of the recess being angularly disposed relative to the axis of rotation of the member, the peripheral `region of the member having surface areas in converging relation for directing the strand into the strand guiding recess.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said strand guiding recess is defined by substantially parallel walls.

6. The combination according to claim 4 wherein the converging surface areas are frusto-conically shaped with the minimum diameter substantially at the central plane of the member.

7. The combination according to claim 4 wherein the converging surface areas are curved `with the minimum diameter substantially at the central plane of the member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,161,284 11/1915 Belz 242-43.2 2,009,014 7/1935 Leeson 242-432 3,073,538 1/1963 Barnes et al. 242-432 3,109,602 11/ 1963 Smith 242-18 3,115,313 12/1963 Cunningham 242-432 STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DISCLOSED, IN COMBINATION, A FEEDER CONTAINING HEAT-SOFTENED GLASS, THE FLOOR OF SAID FEEDER HAVING ORIFICES THROUGH WHICH FLOW STREAMS OF GLASS, A WINDING INSTRUMENTALITY INCLUDING A WINDING COLLET MOUNTING A COLLECTOR TUBE, MOTIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING THE COLLET AND TUBE TO WIND A STRAND OF FILAMENTS ATTENUATED FROM THE STREAMS INTO A PACKAGE ON THE TUBE, MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN THE FEEDER AND THE WINDING COLLET ENGAGING AND GATHERING THE FILAMENTS INTO A STRAND, A ROTATABLE AND RECIPROCABLE TRAVERSE OSCILLATOR ENGAGEABLE WITH THE STRAND AT A REGION SPACED FROM THE COLLECTOR TUBE FOR TRAVERSING THE STRAND TO DISTRIBUTE THE STRAND LENGTHWISE OF THE PACKAGE WITH INDIVIDUAL WRAPS OF STRAND IN OVERLAPPING RELATION, MEANS FOR ROTATING AND RECIPROCATING SAID OSCILLATOR, SAID TRAVERSE OSCILLATOR COMPRISING A MEMBER HAVING A CIRCUMFERENTIAL STRAND GUIDING RECESS, THE MEDIAN PLANE OF THE RECESS BEING ANGULARLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE MEMBER, SAID MEMBER HAVING NONCYLINDRICAL PERIPHERAL SURFACE AREAS CONVERGINA AT A ZONE OF LEAST DIAMETER INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE MEMBER AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE STRAND FOR DIRECTING THE STRAND INTO THE STRAND GUIDING RECESS. 